Truck-bolster.



A. LAUGHLIN.

TRUCK BOLSTER.

APPLICATloN Flu-:D JUNE 19. |916.

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ELMYR A. LAUGHLIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TRUCK-BOLSTER.

Application filed J une 19, 1916.

To all @0.7mm t may concern Be it known that l, ELMYR A. LAUGi-ILIN, Y

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago,county of Cook, and State of illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Truclr-Bolsters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to bolsters and more particularly to that class of bolsters which are designed for use in connection with the trucks of railway cars.

rlhe object of my invention is the production of a truck bolster' which will be of light, economical construction, but which at the same time will possess great strength and rigidity.

A further object is the production of a truck bolster which will be adapted to carry the load at its ends, as distinguished from the center of the bolster, in order to relieve the bolster of vertical strains such as are incident to the carrying of the load by the center of the bolster, this arrangement making it necessary to reinforce the bolster t withstand only horizontal strains.

A still further object is the production of an improved truss construction for reinforcing the bolster against horizontal strains, which construction will be simple and light, but at the same time possess great strength.

ther objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

rlhe invention will be bestunderstood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specilication, and in which,

Figure 1 is a partially sectional top plan view of a truck bolster embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a partially sectional side elevation of the bolster,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line -a of Fig. l, and

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the bolster.

rlhe preferred form of construction, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a main frame consisting of two horizontally spaced longitudinally extending channel formed'or compression members 1, the channels of said members facing outwardly. 'lhe respective ends of frame members l are connected at their under sides by plates 2, and at their upper sides by cross bars 3, said parts being rigidly secured together by riveting. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr.. jill, 191% serial no. 104,531.

plates 2, when the bolster is in use, in addition to serving` as a means of connection between the ends of the frame members l, also serve as seats for the truck springs which cooperate with the bolster. Also the bars 3, when the bolster is in use, in addition to serving as a means of binding the ends of the frame members l together, serve at the same time as means of locking the side frames of the truck together.

Mounted upon the upper edges of the frame members l midway the ends thereof is a center plate 4: having an oval or elongated slot 5 for the accommodation of the king pin, as will be readily understood The upper side of plate 4L is provided with a depression or recess 6 of corresponding form which is adapted for engagement with a circular depending projection formed upon the body center plate of the body bolster in con nection with which the truck bolster is employed. The elongation of slot 5 and recess 6 permit of the desired relative lateral movement of the car body as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Arranged between the frame members l are longitudinally extending truss or tension members 7, each of which is formed of an elongated flat strap or bar. The members 7 cooperate together to form a truss adapted to reinforce the bolster against horizontal strains. The central portions of truss members 7 are disposed with their `flat sides eX- tending vertically, said portions resting against the vertical adjacent sides of frame members l and being rigidly secured thereto by riveting. The end portions of truss members 7 are twisted to bring the portions 8 thereof in such position that the flat sides of the same will be horizontal, said portions 8 being crossed and rigidly connected at their points of crossing by riveting. Beyond the point of intersection of the members 8 the latter are twisted so that the extreme ends or terminals 9 of said members will `be disposed with their flat sides eX- tending vertically, said portions 9 being positioned against the inner sides of frame lmembers l and rigidly secured to the ends of said frame members by riyeting. The central portions of frame members 1 are preferably bulged outwardly slightly and between said portions are provided transversely extending reinforcing channel members 10 the ends of which are secured to the members 1 by angle irons ll.

Provided at the ends of the bolster are seats 12 adapted to accommodate the rockers upon which the car body or load will be supported, the members l2 being so positioned that, when the bolster' is in use, the load will be supported directly above the wheels of the car and thus vertical strain on the bolster reduced to a minimum. At each end of the bolster, at the opposite sides thereof, are also provided guido members 13 adapted to coperate with adjacent portions on the truck frame to guide the bolster in the relative vertical movement of the latter.

vWith the construction set forth in which the load is carried by the ends of the bolster, it will be seen that, when the bolster is in use, the only real strains to which the same will be subjected will be those caused by the coupling of cars together or by the drag of the brakes, these strains beingY all horizontally directed. Through the particular arrangement of the truss members S, assisted by the cross members 10 and center plate 4L which forms a strut for the truss, a rigid reinforcement of the bolster is secured, which will be capable of withstanding these horizontal strains, the truss construction adopted, although light and simple, being exceedingly strong and well adaptedto serve the function intended. By reason of the fact that the bolster is not called upon to stand vertical strains, such as are incident to the carriage of the load at the center of the bolster, reinforcing construction in thebolster to withstand vertical strains is eliminated and this, together with the simple and light truss construction employed to withstand horizontal strains, results in the production of a truck bolster which is exceedingly light and therefore one which may be very economically manufactured.

lWhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

1. In a bolster, the combination of a pair of spaced longitudinally extending compression members; and tension members arranged between and connected with said compression lmembers and crossing each other in the direct plane of horizontal strain to form a truss, substantially as described.

2. In a bolster, the combination of a pair of spaced longitudinally extending compression members; tension members arranged between and connected with said compresmembers and crossing each other in the direct plane of horizontal strain to form a truss; and a center plate extending between and connected with the central portion of said compression members at the upper sides thereof and acting as a strut for the truss, substantially as described.

t. In a bolster, the combination of a main frame; means at the ends of said frame for carrying the load and longitudinally extending truss members for reinforcing said frameV against horizontal strains, said members being connected intermediate their ends with the central portion of said frame and being crossed and connected at their ends with the ends of said frame, substantially p as described.

5. In a bolster, the combination of a main frame; means at the ends of said frame for carrying the load; and longitudinally extending truss members for reinforcing said frame against horizontal strains, said members being connected intermediate their ends with the central portion of said frame, said end portions of said members being crossed and connected together at the points of crossing, and the terminals of said members being connected with the ends of said frame, substantially as described.

6. In a bolster, the combination of a main frame; a pair of longitudinally extending truss members` said members being connected intermediate their ends with the central portion of said frame, the end portions of said members being crossed horizontally and connected together at their points of crossing, and the terminals of said members being connected with the ends of said frame, substantially as described.

7. In a bolster, the combination of a main frame comprising a pair of horizontally spaced longitudinally extending members having vertically extending adjacent surfaces; and a pair of longitudinally extending elongated flat truss members arranged between said longitudinal frame members and having their central portions'disposed with their flat sides extending vertically and positioned against said adjacent surfaces of said frame members and secured rigidly to the latter, the central portions of the ends of said truss members being disposed with their flat sides extending horizontally 'and crossed and rigidly secured together at the points of crossing, the terminals of said truss members being disposed with their fiat sides extending vertically and positioned against said adjacent surfaces of said frame members and secured rigidly to the ends of the latter, substantially as described.

S. ln bolster, the combination of a main frame comprising a pair of horizontally spaced longitudinally extending members having vertically extending adjacent surfaces; and a pair of longitudinally extending elongated flat truss members arranged between said longitudinal frame members and having their central portions disposed with their flat sides extending vertically and positioned against said adjacent surfaces of said frame members and secured rigidly to the latter, the central portions of the ends of said truss members being twisted to position their flat sides horizontally, said portions being crossed and rigidly secured together at their points of crossing, the terminals of said truss members being twisted to position the lat sides thereof vertically, said portions being positioned against said adjacent surfaces of frame members and being secured rigidly to the ends of the latter, substantially as described. v

9. In a bolster, the combination of a main frame comprising a pair of horizontally spaced longitudinally extending channel members having vertically extending adjacent surfaces; and a pair of longitudinally extending elongated flat truss members arranged between said longitudinal frame members and having their central portions disposed with their flat sides extending vertically and positioned against said adjacent .surfaces of said frame members and secured rigidly to the latter, the central portions of and positioned against said adjacent surfaces of said frame members and secured rigidly to the ends of the latter, substantially as described.

10. ln a bolster, the combination of a main frame comprising spaced longitudinal members; longitudinally extending truss members arranged between said frame members and connected therewith for reinforcing said frame against horizontal strains; and transversely extending channel members extending between and connecting the central portions of said frame members, substantially as described.

ll. In a bolster, the combination of a main frame comprising a pair of horizontally spaced longitudinally extending channel members having vertically extending adjacent surfaces; a pair of longitudinally extending elongated flat truss members arranged between said longitudinal frame members and having their central portions disposed with their flat sides extending vertically and positioned against said adjacent surfaces of said frame members and secured rigidly to the latter, the central portions of the ends of said truss members being disposed with their flat sides extending horizontally and crossed and rigidly secured together at the points of crossing, the terminals of said truss members being disposed with their dat sides extending vertically and positioned against said adjacent surfaces of said frame members and secured rigidly to the ends of the latter; and transversely extending channel members extending between and connecting the central portions of said frame membersJ substantially as described.

En testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELMYR A.. LAUGHLIN.

Witnesses;

C. MINNIE BARG, GRACE SCHEGHTER.

Gopes of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of @atenta Washington, D. C. 

